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“Maybe I will.” I laughed.
She shook her head with a smile as she shut the door and went up to her apartment. I waited until she was inside before heading home. When I climbed into bed, I stared at the empty space where she lay last night. I didn’t know what was going on, and I didn’t want to. There was this feeling inside of me I couldn’t describe. It almost felt like the feeling I had after my brothers left North Carolina after my transplant—lonely. But I wasn’t alone. I had my entire family with me here, on this beach, and I was happier than I’d ever been. Why was I feeling this way? I’d spent too much time with Zoey so quickly that it grew on me. She was busy now with the bakery, which would be my excuse for leaving her alone. I had to. I had no choice for my own sanity.
Zoey
I woke up, made a cup of coffee, and sat down on the couch to make my official business plan. I had so much to do—things that should have already been taken care of. I spent the entire day locked up in my apartment, creating my business plan and looking at bakery equipment online. Tomorrow morning, I’d present my business plan to the loan officer at the bank.
Sitting in the bubbly tub, relaxing and unwinding from the mentally number-filled day, I thought about how I hadn’t heard from Carter. I know I told him I was busy all day, but I thought I’d at least get a text from him. After I climbed out of the tub and put on my pajamas, I climbed into bed, and a part of me wished Carter was lying next to me. Damn him.
“This is a really good business plan, Miss Morgan, but unfortunately, I don’t think you’ll be approved for a business loan of this size.”
“Excuse me? Why not?” I cocked my head as my belly sank. “I have excellent credit.”
“I know, but you don’t have any assets. From our experience, a lot of bakeries go under just about as quickly as they start.”
“Mr. Keys, my bakery will not go under. I can promise you that.”
“Everyone thinks that.” He smiled. “But we have to live in reality. If your bakery doesn’t take off, how are you going to pay back this loan? You need to see this from our business point of view, Miss Morgan. We just can’t go lending money to every young, beautiful woman who walks in here with a dream. I’ll tell you what. Revise your business plan, cut costs, find a smaller space, and come see me. Or better yet, start the business out of your home.”
I sat there and furrowed my brows at him. “You know what? Maybe this bank isn’t for me.” I grabbed my business plan from his desk. “If I were a man, you wouldn’t even hesitate to approve the loan.”
“That is not true, Miss Morgan.”
“Yes, it is, and you know it. Good day, Mr. Keys.” I turned around and walked out of his office.
Climbing into my car, I gripped the steering wheel and laid my forehead on it. After doing a Google search, I found a different bank, called, and set up an appointment for tomorrow afternoon with one of the loan officers. Fuck that bank, and fuck Mr. Keys. I’d show him.
I pulled into the parking lot of the building, where many work trucks were parked. Climbing out of my car, I walked into Mojo Madness for a cup of coffee and saw Julia behind the counter.
“Hey, you.” She smiled as she stepped out and hugged me. “What’s wrong?”
“Ugh. I just came from the bank, and the asshole loan officer said they wouldn’t approve my loan.”
“Why?” Her brows furrowed.
“Because I’m a woman.”
“He said that?” Julia asked.
“Not in those exact words. He told me to revise my business plan, cut costs, find a smaller space, and come back and see him.”
“You’re not going to do that, are you?” she asked.
“No. I have an appointment at a different bank tomorrow.” I sighed.
“Go sit down at a table, and I’ll get your coffee. Everything will work out.”
While I was waiting, my phone pinged. I pulled it from my purse, and there was a text from Carter.
“Hi. Dinner tonight?”
I wasn’t in the mood and wouldn’t be very good company.
“Hi. Sorry. I can’t tonight.”
“Why?”
“I already made plans.”
